Six Taliban militants linked to last year’s attack on a school in Pakistan’s northern city of Peshawar were sentenced to death on Thursday, for their role in the December 2014 massacre that claimed the lives of more than 140 people, most of them children.
The accused were tried in military courts, where the army said they “were given a fair trial”, the BBC reported. A seventh militant was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The attack on Peshawar’s Army Public School, where a majority of the victims were under the age of 16, prompted a wave of anger across the country against the Taliban and resulted in Pakistan lifting a seven-year moratorium on executions.
These are the first death sentences to be handed down for the horrific attack, according to the BBC. None of the six sentenced to death this week were among the attackers, all of whom were killed by Pakistani security forces during the attack itself.
Meet the Young Survivors of the Peshawar School Attack
Batur Khan, 14, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"The gunman started shooting randomly. At that moment I ran toward the door, which is close to me, but I was pushed by another boy and I fell on the ground," Batur said. "I stood up so quickly and the sound of the shooting was right behind me and I managed to run out of the door."
Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIME
A wall riddled with bullet holes inside the Army Public School, which was attacked on Dec. 16 by the Pakistani Taliban. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.
Muhammed Muheisen—AP
Mohammad Tufail Mumtaz, 14, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 21, 2014.
"I was totally covered with bodies over me and around me as the shooting was from behind me," Mohammad recalled from the scene in the auditorium. "I closed my eyes, I stopped my breathing and I lost track of time."
Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIME
Chairs in the auditorium are overturned and the floor is stained with blood after the Pakistani Taliban attacked the Army Public School on Dec. 16. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.
Muhammed Muheisen—AP
Mesbah Hadait, 7, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"I remember nothing of that day," Mesbah said. "I have no memory of it."
Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIME
Hina Gul, 8, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"Inshallah, I will come back to my school," Hina said.
Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIME
A Pakistani army officer stands in front of a bullet-riddled wall inside the Army Public School, which was attacked on Dec. 16 by the Pakistani Taliban. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.
Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIME
Bilal Ahmad, 16, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"For almost an hour we were on the ground silently hearing our own breaths," Bilal said. "And the sound of firing was endless till soldiers arrived and grabbed us and took us through the back doors out of the school."
Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIME
A damaged room inside the Army Public School, which was attacked on Dec. 16 by the Pakistani Taliban. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.
Muhammed Muheisen—AP
Omar Ali Shah, 10, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"I heard shooting just outside our classroom, just next to the auditorium hall, and my teacher had us to lay on the ground and to be silent for 40 to 50 minutes," Omar said. "During these minutes I thought it's the end of life, till soldiers came to our class."
Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIME
A Pakistani woman looks at the damage inside the Army Public School, which was attacked on Dec. 16 by the Pakistani Taliban. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.
Muhammed Muheisen—AP
Faizan Raees, 12, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"Our teacher immediately said to us that we were under attack and we have to be quiet and lay on the ground," Faizan recalled. "After 30 minutes, a soldier came to our class."
Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIME
A wall riddled with bullet holes inside the Army Public School, which was attacked on Dec. 16 by the Pakistani Taliban. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.
Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIME
Muddathir Naveed, 14, (right) and Muzammil, 12, students and brothers who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"It's so dangerous to study in Peshawar and so important to me and my family," Muddathir said. "Me and my brother will go back to study in the same school." Muzammil echoed that sentiment.
"I will keep coming to my school, am not afraid anymore," he said. "As my father always said to me, 'Be brave my son,' and I want to be a brave man."
Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIME
Entekhab Alam, 14, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16, in the school's yard. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 20, 2014.
"Our teacher who gives us the religion class didn't come to the class, so we started playing in the classroom," Entekhab said. "Few minutes after, there was a very loud sound of shooting. I blocked my ears with my hands and ran outside along with a friend, and there was shooting right behind us, and when I reached the gate I noticed that my poor friend got killed. He didn't make it to the gate."
Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIME
A Pakistani police officer walks through a hallway inside the Army Public School, which was attacked on Dec. 16 by the Pakistani Taliban. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.
Muhammed Muheisen—AP
Afaq Ahmad, 16, a student who survived the Pakistani Taliban's attack on the Army Public School on Dec. 16. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 21, 2014.
"Illiteracy is the main reason of terrorism," Afaq said. "To fight it we have all to be educated."
Muhammed Muheisen—AP for TIME
A man stands at the exit of a hallway that was heavily damaged in the Pakistani Taliban's Dec. 16 attack on the Army Public School. Peshawar, Pakistan. Dec. 18, 2014.
Muhammed Muheisen—AP
Advertisement
Read next: The Fear That Haunts Peshawar
